MSU Pavement Research Highlighted by U.S. Department of Transportation

MSU is the first university in the country to have a University Transportation Center (UTC) for Highway Pavement Preservation. Its research is the “UTC Spotlight of the Month” for the U.S. Department of Transportation for August 2015: 1.usa.gov/1gE99eG.

Like a promising student that has learned many lessons along the way — the science of pavement preservation is growing up.

The National Center for Pavement Preservation (NCPP) was established in 2003 by Michigan State University (MSU) and the Foundation for Pavement Preservation as the national pavement preservation clearinghouse to practitioners throughout the United States.

It was only a matter of time before a national research and education center on the subject would join the effort.

MSU is the first university in the country to have a University Transportation Center (UTC) for Highway Pavement Preservation. The U.S. Department of Transportation designated Michigan State’s Center for Highway Pavement Preservation (CHPP) as a Tier 1 UTC in 2013.

“The main focus of the center is the infusion of science and innovative technology to pavement preservation,” said CHPP director Karim Chatti, an MSU professor of civil and environment engineering. “The center sponsors research, education, outreach, and technology transfer activities.”

Chatti said training the next generation of tech-savvy workers who can develop integrated solutions for highway pavement preservation is an important aspect of the CHPP’s mission.